TNAG-0022-FCO40-58-Facilities-for-US-Forces-1968 — Page 12

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COMMUNISTS AS A COMPLETE SUSPENSION OF SUCH VISITS AND EXPLOITED ACCORDINGLY, WE ARE PREPARED TO CONSIDER ONE FURTHER VISIT IN 1968.

(B) THERE SHOULD BE NO POTENTIALLY CONTROVERSIAL VISITS IN THE TWO-WEEK PERIOD FOLLOWING THE VISIT OF A NUCLEAR-POWERED VESSEL, STRIKE CARRIER, OR HELICOPTER OR TROOP CARRIER.

(C) THE AMERICANS SHOULD GIVE US THE MAXIMUM POSSIBLE NOTICE OF THE VISITS OF MAJOR SHIPS.

(D) VISITS BY QUOTE PARTICULARLY CONTROVERSIAL SHIPS UNQUOTE (DEFINED AS THOSE WHICH ARE NUCLEAR-POWERED) MIGHT IN FUTURE LAST LESS THAN 5 DAYS.

(E) ANY FUTURE VISIT BY THE USS QUOTE ENTERPRISE UNQUOTE WILL HAVE TO BE SUBJECT TO THE MOST CAREFUL CONSIDERATION.

(F) THE NEED TO AVOID THE UNDUE CONCENTRATION OF SHIPS AT ANY ONE TIME (TOMKINS' LETTER FROM WASHINGTON OF 12 JULY TO WILKINSON)

SHOULD BE REEMPHASISED.

(G) IT IS DESIRABLE NOT TO ALLOW THE DATES OF SHIPS VISITS TO BE

KNOWN LONGER IN ADVANCE THAN IS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.

4. IN VIEW OF YOUR COMMENT IN PARAGRAPH 10 OF YOUR TELEGRAM UNDER

REFERENCE, WE SEE NO NEED TO RAISE THE QUESTION OF GUIDELINE F REGARDING THE PLACING OF MILITARY CONTRACTS IN HONG KONG.

5. YOUR TELEGRAM NUMBER 949.

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VISIT OF QUOTE AMERICA UNQUOTE MAY TAKE PLACE AS PLANNED.

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